OSHA Health & Safety

OSHA is Now Enforcing More Stringent Regulations

Be sure you are fully aware of the updated fall protection policy and know how to comply with the new rules in order to eliminate workplace hazards, boost worker safety and avoid costly fines. Jobsite safety is a critical component of the residential construction industry. With over 600 people killed every year by falls on the jobsite, builders are keenly aware of the risks involved in building homes.

This is why its important for every member to have a jobsite safety plan that's reviewed with their employees and subcontractors regularly. And as the controlling contractor on the jobsite, builders are compelled to ensure that the right precautions are taken time and again.Whether you are updating your safety plan or creating a new one, please review these comprehensive resources available to you.

Don't Forget to Post Injury and Illness Information

Insurance carriers and government regulatory agencies require various work-related accident and injury reports. Under the OSHA recordkeeping regulation (29 CFR 1904), covered employers must prepare and maintain records of serious occupational injuries and illnesses using the OSHA Recordkeeping Forms.

NEW! What am I required to report?

Beginning Jan. 1, 2015, ALL employers* will be required to notify OSHA of work-related fatalities within eight hours, and work-related in-patient hospitalizations, amputations or losses of an eye within 24 hours.

Employers have three options for reporting these severe incidents to OSHA:

Previously, OSHA's regulations required an employer to report only work-related fatalities and in-patient hospitalizations of three or more employees. Reporting single hospitalizations, amputations or loss of an eye was not required under the previous rule.

Am I required to prepare and maintain records?

Employers with more than 10 employees and whose establishments are not classified as a partially exempt industry must record work-related injuries and illnesses using OSHA forms 300 (log of injuries), 300A (summary of injuries) and 301 (incident report). Employers are not responsible for reporting on subcontractors. Subcontractors are considered separate employers by OSHA and must maintain their own OSHA records.

What is recordable under OSHA's recordkeeping regulation?

Covered employers must record all work-related fatalities.

Covered employers must record all work-related injuries and illnesses that result in days away from work, restricted work or transfer to another job, loss of consciousness or medical treatment beyond first aid (see OSHA's definition of first aid).

In addition, employers must record significant work-related injuries or illnesses diagnoses by a physician or other licensed health care professional, even if it does not result in death, days away from work, restricted work or job transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid, or loss of consciousness.

OSHA's definition of work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities are those in which an event or exposure in the work environment either caused or contributed to the condition or significantly aggravated a pre-existing injury or illness.

What information must employers post and when?

Employers must post OSHA's Form 300A, which summarizes the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred during past year and were logged on OSHA's Form 300, the log of work-related injuries and illnesses. The OSHA Form 300A must be posted between Feb. 1 and April 30 of each year and should be displayed in a visible and common area where notices to employees are usually posted.

A company executive must also sign and certify Form 300A. This can include: (1) any officer of the corporation; (2) the highest-ranking company official working at the establishment; (3) the immediate supervisor of the highest-ranking company official working at the establishment; or (4) an owner of the company (permitted only if the company is a sole proprietorship or partnership).

Employers more than 10 employees and employers in specific low-hazard industries are normally exempt from federal OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping and posting requirements. Due to changes in OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements that went into effect Jan. 1, 2015, certain previously exempt industries are now covered. Lists of both exempt and newly covered industries are available on OSHA's website.

Federal vs. State Programs

Not all states follow the federal OSHA programs. Many home builders operate in approved OSHA state plans and will need to check with their local administrators for further information on the recordkeeping standards applicable in their states.

DISCLAIMER: The above information is provided as a service of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). No legal advice is offered or implied, and no attorney-client relationship is intended or established. These materials are meant for information purposes only; it is not considered a substitute for any provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 or for any standards written by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

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